Cooking station and system with removable insert having multiple cooking modes

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/503,156, filed May 8, 2017, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

0002The present invention relates generally to cooking stations and, more specifically, the present invention relates to a cooking station with a removable insert having various modes for cooking food.

BACKGROUND

0003Barbequing has become a popular and pervasive tradition in much of the world. A barbeque grill is a device for cooking food by applying heat directly below a grill. There are several varieties of grills but most fall into one of two categories, either gas fueled or charcoal. Gas fueled grills typically use propane or natural gas as a fuel source, with the gas flame either cooking the food directly or heating grilling elements which in turn radiate the heat necessary to cook the food. Smoking and simmering the food with heat over a long period is also a desired mode for cooking the food to provide a particular taste imparted to the food. As such, it would be advantageous to provide a single cooking station that is able to barbeque food with various cooking modes so that the user can better select the outcome of the cooked food and obtain the unique flavors and textures imparted to food from the barbequing process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0004The present invention is directed to various embodiments of a cooking station and system for cooking a food product. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a cooking station having a main body and an insert. The main body includes a vertically extending wall extending between a closed bottom end and a pivotable lid at an upper end, the vertically extending wall extending laterally with a radial portion and a generally flat portion. The flat portion extends along a front side of the main body, the main body defining a first insert opening and a second insert opening therein. The first insert opening being positioned at a lower portion of the main body and the second insert opening being positioned above the first insert opening of the main body. The insert is sized to be removably positioned through either one of the first insert opening and the second insert opening, the insert having heating element structure configured to deliver heat to the food product.

0005In one embodiment, the heating element structure includes gas heating element structure for cooking the food product. In another embodiment, the heating element structure includes container structure sized and configured to hold a burnable material for cooking the food product. In a further embodiment, the container structure of the insert includes openings defined therein at an upper end portion of the container structure such that the container structure is configured to be partially positioned through the first insert opening so that the openings are exposed within the main body. In another embodiment, the insert is positionable in the first insert opening in a first position and a second position for cooking the food product, the insert, in the first position, being partially inserted within the first insert opening and, the insert, in the second position, being fully inserted within the first insert opening. In yet another embodiment, the main body includes a single slideable door moveable between the first insert opening and the second insert opening, the slideable door configured to close-off one of the first and second insert openings.

0006In another embodiment, the main body includes a ledge sized to hold a removable grill such that the grill is positionable above the second insert opening. In still another embodiment, cooking station further includes one or more food suspension elements sized to extend horizontally across an upper portion of the main body, the one or more food suspension elements configured to suspend removeable hook elements for suspending the food product thereto. In another embodiment, the main body includes two wheels and a handle each positioned on a single side of the main body, the handle positioned at an upper portion of the main body, the two wheels and the handle configured to facilitate manually tilting the main body to facilitate portability of the main body.

0007In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a cooking station for cooking a food product is provided. The cooking station includes a main body and an insert. The main body includes a vertically extending wall extending between a closed bottom end and a pivotable lid at an upper end, the main body configured to extend longitudinally in a vertical orientation. The main body defines a first insert opening and a second insert opening therein, the first insert opening being positioned at a lower portion of the main body and the second insert opening being positioned at an intermediate portion of the main body. The insert is sized to be removably positioned through either one of the first insert opening and the second insert opening, the insert having heating element structure configured to deliver heat to the food product.

0008In another embodiment, the main body includes rails extending horizontally within the main body to correspond with the first insert opening and the second insert opening such that the insert is configured to be manually moveable through one of the first and second insert openings and along the rails corresponding therewith. In another embodiment, the main body includes one or more ledges positioned adjacent an inner surface of the main body and along an upper portion of the main body, the one or more ledges sized and configured to support a grill.

0009In another embodiment, the heating element structure includes gas heating element structure for cooking the food product. In another embodiment, the heating element structure includes container structure sized and configured to hold charcoal for cooking the food product. In still another embodiment, the insert is positionable in the first insert opening in a first position and a second position for cooking the food product, the insert, in the first position, being partially inserted within the first insert opening and, the insert, in the second position, being fully inserted within the first insert opening.

0010In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a cooking station system for cooking a food product is provided. The cooking station system includes a main body and a first insert. The main body including a vertically extending wall extending between a closed bottom end and a closable upper end with a lid, the main body configured to extend longitudinally in a vertical orientation. The main body defines a lower insert opening and an upper insert opening, the main body including a slideable door moveable to close-off either the lower and upper insert opening. The first insert is sized and configured to be removably positioned through either one of the lower insert opening and the upper insert opening, the first insert having heating element container structure configured to deliver heat to the food product. With this arrangement, the first insert is positionable in the lower insert opening in a first position and a second position for cooking the food product such that the first insert, in the first position, is partially inserted within the lower insert opening and such that the first insert, in the second position, is fully inserted within the lower insert opening.

0011In one embodiment, the heating element container structure of the insert includes openings defined therein at an upper end portion of the container structure such that, in the first position, the heating element container structure is configured to be partially positioned through the lower insert opening so that the openings are exposed within the main body. In another embodiment, upon the first insert being positioned in the lower insert opening in the first position, the first insert comprises a moveable brace to maintain the first insert at a level position. In still another embodiment, the cooking station further includes a second insert sized and configured to be removably positioned within the lower insert opening or the upper insert opening, the second insert having gas heating element structure configured for cooking the food product.

0012In another embodiment, the main body includes two wheels and a handle each positioned on a single side of the main body, the handle positioned at an upper portion of the main body, the two wheels and the handle configured to facilitate manually tilting the main body to facilitate portability of the main body. In another embodiment, the main body includes a ledge sized to hold a removable grill such that the grill is positionable above the second insert opening. In a further embodiment, the cooking station includes one or more food suspension elements sized to extend horizontally across an upper portion of the main body, the one or more food suspension elements configured to suspend removeable hook elements for suspending the food product thereto. In another embodiment, the main body includes rails extending horizontally within the main body to correspond with the lower insert opening and the upper insert opening such that the first insert is configured to be manually moveable through one of the first and second insert openings and along the rails corresponding therewith.

0013In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a cooking station system for cooking a food product. The cooking station includes a main body and a pellet hopper. The main body extends longitudinally in a vertical orientation with a vertically extending wall, the main body including a closed bottom end and closable upper end with a lid, the vertically extending wall extending laterally with a radial portion and a generally flat portion, the flat portion extending along a front side of the main body, the main body including multiple grill racks disposed horizontally within the main body and exposable with a pivoting door. The pellet hopper removably coupled to the main body, the pellet hopper configured to controllably feed pellets to a heating element within a lower portion of the main body, the pellet hopper extending longitudinally in a vertical orientation adjacent the main body.

0014In one embodiment, the cooking station system further includes one or more food suspension elements sized to extend horizontally across an upper portion of the main body, the one or more food suspension elements configured to suspend removeable hook elements for suspending the food product thereto. In another embodiment, the pellet hopper is controllable remotely. In another embodiment, the door includes a glass window for observation of the food product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

0015The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

0016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective view of a cooking station, depicting an insert in an upper insert opening, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref> is a top view of the cooking station with a lid in an open position, depicting food suspension elements sized to receive hooks for positioning thereon, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1B</figref> is a exploded top view of the cooking station with the lid in the open position, depicting the cooking station sized to receive a grill, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

0019<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a perspective view of the cooking station with the insert removed therefrom, depicting a slidable door incorporated with the upper insert opening and a lower insert opening, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

0020<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a perspective view of an insert, depicting the insert having a removable lid, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

0021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a side view of the cooking station, depicting the insert in an outer position, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

0022<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a bottom perspective view of the insert positioned relative to rails, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

0023<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a side view of the cooking station, depicting the insert in an inner position, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

0024<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an enlarged rear view of the cooking station, depicting a hinge member coupled to a lid and main body of the cooking station and a handle associated with the hinge member, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

0025<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a perspective view of the cooking station, depicting a second insert with a gas burner, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

0026<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a perspective view of the second insert with the gas burner, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

0027<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is a front view of another embodiment of a cooking station integrated with a pellet hopper, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

0028Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 1A</figref>, a cooking station <b>10</b> with multiple insert openings is provided. The cooking station <b>10</b> of the present invention may be sized and configured to facilitate various modalities for cooking a food product. In one embodiment, the cooking station <b>10</b> may include a main body <b>12</b> having an upright extending side wall <b>14</b> that may extend between a closed bottom end <b>16</b> and a pivotable lid <b>20</b> at an upper end <b>18</b>. Such upright extending side wall <b>14</b> may define a lower insert opening <b>22</b> and an upper insert opening <b>24</b>, each of which may receive an insert <b>26</b>. The insert <b>26</b> may be removably positioned through either one of the lower insert opening <b>22</b> and the upper insert opening <b>24</b>. With this arrangement, the insert may include heating element structure <b>28</b> configured to deliver heat to the food product.

0029The main body may include a longitudinal length <b>30</b> and extend along and define a longitudinal axis <b>32</b> of the main body <b>12</b>. In the use position of the cooking station <b>10</b>, the main body <b>12</b> may extend longitudinally so as to be employed in an upright or vertical orientation. The upright extending side wall <b>14</b> of the main body <b>12</b> may define a front wall <b>34</b>, a rear wall <b>36</b>, a first wall <b>38</b> and a second wall <b>40</b>. The front wall <b>34</b> may extend in a generally flat manner and the rear wall <b>36</b> may extend laterally relative to the longitudinal axis <b>32</b> in a radial manner or with a radial component. The first and second walls <b>38</b>, <b>40</b> may oppose each other and extend generally flat in a parallel manner. The main body <b>12</b> may also include a bottom wall <b>42</b> at the bottom end <b>16</b> of the main body <b>12</b>, the bottom wall <b>42</b> defining a periphery that corresponds with the upright extending side wall <b>14</b>. The main body <b>12</b> may also include wheels <b>44</b>, such as two caster wheels, and/or legs <b>46</b>, such as two legs, both of which may facilitate portability and stability of the cooking station. In one embodiment, the wheels <b>44</b> may extend between and along an axil or wheel axis adjacent the bottom end <b>16</b> at the rear of the main body <b>12</b> with the legs <b>46</b> extending from the bottom end <b>16</b> at the front of the main body <b>12</b>. Further, the main body <b>12</b> may include a rear handle <b>48</b> at its rear-upper end to assist tilting the cooking station <b>10</b> to an angle <b>50</b> such that the cooking station <b>10</b> may be readily moveable to alternate locations, thereby, further facilitating portability of the cooking station <b>10</b>. Further, at a lower end portion of the main body <b>12</b>, the main body <b>12</b> may define a slot <b>52</b> for holding a grease tray <b>54</b> for collecting byproduct from cooking the food product. Such grease tray <b>54</b> may be linearly pulled and slid out from the slot <b>52</b> to clean, for example, subsequent to cooking the food product and then placed back within the slot <b>52</b>.

0030The upper end <b>18</b> of the main body <b>12</b> may include the lid <b>20</b>. In one embodiment, the lid <b>20</b> may pivot to move the lid <b>20</b> to closed and open positions over an upper portion of the upright extending side wall <b>14</b>. Such lid <b>20</b> may include a front handle <b>59</b> for opening and closing the lid <b>20</b> relative to the main body <b>12</b>. Further, the lid <b>20</b> may be secured to the main body <b>12</b> with a latch <b>56</b>. The lid <b>20</b> may also include a temperature gauge <b>58</b>.

0031With respect to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref>, in one embodiment, the cooking station <b>10</b> may include one or more food suspension elements <b>76</b> positioned at, for example, an upper portion of the upright side wall <b>14</b> of the main body <b>12</b>. Such food suspension elements <b>76</b> may include rods <b>62</b> and/or hooks <b>64</b>. The rods <b>62</b> may be suspended on a ledge or u-shaped members <b>66</b> that may be coupled to an inner surface <b>68</b> of the upright side wall <b>14</b>. In this manner, the u-shaped members <b>66</b> may be oriented so that the rods <b>62</b> may be positioned over and suspended at the upper portion of the main body <b>12</b> with a portion of the u-shaped members <b>66</b> preventing lateral movement from the u-shaped members <b>66</b>. The hooks <b>64</b> may be s-shaped hooks that each may include an upper hook portion <b>70</b> and a lower hook portion <b>72</b>. The upper hook portion <b>70</b> may be positioned over the rods <b>62</b>, as indicated by dashed line <b>74</b>, such that the lower hook portion <b>72</b> may be employed for coupling and suspending food product thereto and within the main body <b>12</b>. Upon cooking the food product, the rods <b>62</b> may be readily lifted from the u-shaped members <b>66</b> and removed from the hooks <b>64</b>.

0032With respect to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1B</figref>, another embodiment of a food suspension element <b>76</b> for the cooking station <b>10</b> is provided. In this embodiment, the food suspension element <b>76</b> may be a grill <b>80</b>. The grill <b>80</b> may be suspended within the upper portion of the main body <b>12</b> with an upper edge <b>78</b> of the u-shaped members <b>66</b>. Further, the grill <b>80</b> may be positioned on additional ledges in the form of tabs <b>82</b>, the tabs <b>82</b> being positioned against the inner surface <b>68</b> of the main body <b>12</b> at about the same horizontal plane or level as the upper edge <b>78</b> of the u-shaped members <b>66</b>. In this manner, the grill <b>80</b> may be readily removed or positioned, as indicated by dashed lines <b>84</b>, over the u-shaped members <b>66</b> and tabs <b>82</b> within the upper portion of the main body <b>12</b> to suspend and cook the food product thereon.

0033Now with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref>, as previously set forth, the front wall <b>34</b> of the main body <b>12</b> may define the lower and upper insert openings <b>22</b>, <b>24</b> (or otherwise referenced as first and second insert openings, respectively) of the cooking station <b>10</b>. Such lower and upper insert openings <b>22</b>, <b>24</b> may each include a set of rails <b>86</b> or a rail system, discussed in further detail herein, that extend within the main body <b>12</b> and correspond with the lower and upper insert openings <b>22</b>, <b>24</b>. Further, the lower insert opening <b>22</b> may be substantially similar to the upper insert opening <b>24</b> such that the insert <b>26</b> may be sized and configured to be inserted in either the lower or upper insert openings <b>22</b>, <b>24</b>. In one embodiment, the main body <b>12</b> may include a slidable door <b>90</b> sized to be linearly moveable, as indicated by arrow <b>92</b>, to the opposite one of the lower and upper insert openings <b>22</b>, <b>24</b> holding the insert <b>26</b>. Such slidable door <b>90</b> may be linearly moveable in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis <b>32</b>, for example, between a lower position, as depicted in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, and an upper position, as depicted in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, by lifting up or pushing down on a door tab <b>88</b> directly coupled to and extending from the slidable door <b>90</b>. In the lower position, the door tab <b>88</b> of the slideable door <b>90</b> may be exposed within a notch <b>94</b> defined in the front wall <b>34</b>. Such slideable door <b>90</b> may be larger than the lower insert opening <b>22</b> and the upper insert opening <b>24</b>. Further, the slideable door <b>90</b> may slide along an inner surface of the front wall <b>34</b> within, for example, a track or slot defined along the inner surface and may include structure, such as ribs or the like, for maintaining the slideable door <b>90</b> to the upper position with, for example, an interference fit.

0034Now with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref>, the insert <b>26</b> may be sized and configured to be moveable within the exposed one of the lower and upper insert openings <b>22</b>, <b>24</b>. The insert <b>26</b> may also be referenced as a first insert. In one embodiment, the insert <b>26</b> may include a tray or drawer like structure. In another embodiment, as previously set forth, the insert <b>26</b> may include heating element structure <b>28</b> configured to deliver heat to a food product. For example, the heating element structure <b>28</b> of the insert <b>26</b> may define container structure <b>100</b> sized and configured to hold charcoal or other burnable element that may be ignited to burn and deliver heat to the food product. The container structure <b>100</b> may include a face wall <b>96</b>, opposing side walls <b>98</b>, a back wall <b>102</b>, and a bottom wall <b>104</b>. Further, the container structure <b>100</b> may include a removable lid <b>106</b>. The face wall <b>96</b> may include one or more handles <b>108</b> and may include an adjustable door <b>110</b>. The adjustable door <b>110</b> may be adjusted to define an air inlet within the face wall <b>96</b> such that the adjustable door <b>110</b> may be moved between a closed position to various sized open positions in a linearly slideable manner, as indicated by bi-linear arrow <b>112</b>. The side walls <b>98</b> may include tabs <b>114</b> positioned a predetermined height from the bottom wall <b>104</b> and extend inward from the opposing side walls <b>98</b>, the tabs <b>114</b> sized and configured to suspend a charcoal grate <b>116</b> between the side walls <b>98</b>. Such charcoal grate <b>116</b> may also be pivotably coupled at pivot points <b>118</b> on opposing end portions of the side walls <b>98</b>. The container structure <b>100</b> may also include through holes <b>120</b> defined in an upper end portion <b>124</b> of the container structure <b>100</b>. For example, such through holes <b>120</b> may be defined in the back wall <b>102</b> and the lid <b>106</b> and a larger through hole or gap <b>122</b> defined between the back wall <b>102</b> and the lid <b>106</b>, upon the lid <b>106</b> being positioned on the side walls <b>98</b> and back wall <b>102</b> of the container structure <b>100</b>. Such through holes <b>120</b> may be positioned, sized and configured to deliver smoke from the container structure <b>100</b> and upward toward the food product. With this arrangement, the adjustable door <b>110</b> may be adjusted to a height to provide a desired air flow under the charcoal grate <b>116</b> and to charcoal in the container structure <b>100</b>. Upon charcoal completing its burn, the insert <b>26</b> may be withdrawn from, for example, the lower insert opening <b>22</b>, the lid <b>106</b> may be removed to then turn upside-down the insert <b>26</b> discard the charcoal residue and, if needed, the charcoal grate <b>116</b> may pivot outward to facilitate residue being discarded from below the charcoal grate <b>116</b>.

0035With reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3, 4, and 6</figref>, the insert <b>26</b> may include multiple use positions within the lower insert opening <b>22</b> of the cooking station <b>10</b>, such as a first position (FIG. <b>4</b>) and a second position (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>). For example, for a slow smoker cook of the food product, the insert <b>26</b> may be positioned in a first position or partially inserted position within the lower insert opening, as depicted in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>. In the first position, an end portion <b>128</b> of the insert <b>26</b> may be disposed within the main body <b>12</b> so that the upper end portion <b>124</b> defining the through holes in the lid <b>106</b> and back wall <b>102</b> of the container structure <b>100</b> may deliver smoke to the food product. Further, in the first position, the container structure <b>100</b> may include a brace <b>126</b> or leg (see also, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>). In one embodiment, the brace <b>126</b> may be pivotably coupled to the bottom wall <b>104</b> such that the brace <b>126</b> is moveable from being disposed adjacent the bottom wall <b>104</b> to a use position, as indicated by arrow <b>130</b>. The use position of the brace <b>126</b> may extend generally orthogonal relative to the bottom wall <b>104</b> of the container structure <b>100</b>. In another embodiment, the insert <b>26</b> may be partially inserted, as depicted in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, as well as various partially inserted positions that may be further inserted, but also partially inserted positions into the main body <b>12</b>. In each of the partially inserted positions, it is preferred that the container structure <b>100</b> include the lid <b>106</b> thereon.

0036With respect to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2, 4, and 5</figref>, the rails <b>86</b> may be suspended and/or secured to structure coupled to the inner surface of the main body <b>12</b>. Such rails <b>86</b> may extend horizontally from and adjacent to a lower edge of each of the lower insert opening <b>22</b> and upper insert opening <b>24</b>. Further, the rails <b>86</b> may be sized and configured to correspond with pegs <b>132</b> or legs or other stopping structure defined in an underside surface <b>134</b> of the bottom wall <b>102</b>. For simplicity purposes, the rails <b>86</b> and a bottom side of the insert <b>26</b> are shown without the side wall <b>14</b> of the main body <b>12</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. As depicted, in one embodiment, the rails <b>86</b> may be disposed between opposing pegs <b>132</b> such that the insert <b>26</b> may be linearly slidable along the rails <b>86</b>. Further, a bent portion <b>136</b> in the rails <b>86</b> may be employed to provide a hard stop for the insert <b>26</b> relative to the rails <b>86</b>. This hard stop may be employed for the user to readily ascertain the first position of the insert <b>26</b>, as depicted in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>. Upon removing the insert <b>26</b> from the lower insert opening <b>22</b>, the user may slightly lift the insert <b>26</b> upward so that the pegs <b>132</b> gain clearance above the bent portion <b>136</b> of the rails <b>86</b>.

0037With reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 6</figref>, the insert <b>26</b> may be moved to the second position within the lower insert opening <b>22</b> of the main body <b>12</b> of the cooking station <b>10</b>. In the second position, the insert <b>26</b> may be fully inserted within the lower insert opening <b>22</b>. In the second position, the insert may (or may not) include its lid <b>106</b> positioned over the insert <b>26</b>. For example, including the lid <b>106</b> may provide a slower cook and disperse smoke from the through holes. In another embodiment, as desired by the user, the insert <b>26</b> may be placed in the second position within the lower insert opening <b>22</b> without the lid <b>106</b>, which would fully expose the hot coals below the food product to increase the temperature in the cooking station <b>10</b> making for a faster cook of the food product.

0038With respect to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1, 4 and 6</figref>, in another embodiment, the insert <b>26</b> may be positioned in the upper insert opening <b>24</b> with the slideable door <b>90</b> moved to close-off the lower insert opening <b>22</b>. Similar to the insert <b>26</b> being positioned in the lower insert opening <b>22</b>, the insert <b>26</b> may be positioned with or without the lid <b>106</b> of the insert <b>26</b> in the upper insert opening <b>24</b>. In this manner, the insert <b>26</b> may be employed in various positions of the cooking station <b>10</b> to provide various levels of heating and/or smoking of the food product as well as being able to control the amount of air accessing the coals of the charcoal via the adjustable door <b>110</b> disposed on the insert <b>26</b> to, thereby, control the heat and/or smoke to the food product.

0039Now with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 7</figref>, in another embodiment, the lid <b>20</b> of the cooking station <b>10</b> may be pivotable with a hinge member <b>140</b>. The hinge member <b>140</b> may include a first hinge portion <b>138</b> and a second hinge portion <b>142</b>. The first hinge portion <b>138</b> may be coupled to an upper end portion <b>144</b> of the rear wall <b>36</b> and the second hinge portion <b>142</b> may be coupled to a back side <b>146</b> of the lid <b>20</b>, the first and the second hinge portions <b>138</b>, <b>142</b> coupled together at a hinge axis <b>150</b>. In one embodiment, the hinge member <b>140</b> may include the rear handle <b>48</b> that may be fixed thereto. In another embodiment, the hinge member <b>140</b> may include the rear handle <b>48</b> in a u-shaped configuration with bent ends <b>148</b> and held within the hinge axis <b>150</b>. In another embodiment, the bent ends <b>148</b> of the u-shaped handle may be employed as pins coupling the hinge member <b>140</b> together and facilitating the lid <b>20</b> to pivot. In another embodiment, the rear handle <b>48</b> may be fixed (in a non-pivotable manner) to the hinge member <b>140</b>. In another embodiment, the rear handle <b>48</b> may be pivotable about the hinge axis <b>150</b>. With this arrangement, the rear handle <b>48</b> may be employed with the two rear wheels <b>44</b> of the cooking station <b>10</b> to gain leverage for tilting the cooking station <b>10</b> at the previously described angle <b>50</b> to, thereby, facilitate ready portability of the cooking station <b>10</b>. Upon tilting the cooking station, it is preferred to secure the pivotable lid <b>20</b> to the main body <b>12</b> with the latch <b>56</b>.

0040With reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 8 and 9</figref>, in another embodiment, the cooking station <b>10</b> may include a second insert <b>150</b> (or an additional accessory insert) that may include heating element structure <b>152</b> therewith. In this embodiment, the heating element structure <b>152</b> may include gas heating element structure. For example, the second insert <b>150</b> may include a face wall <b>154</b>, a bottom wall <b>156</b>, and opposing side walls <b>158</b> to define a tray like structure or container like structure. Such tray like structure may be employed for catching grease as well as coupling a support structure <b>162</b> for a burner tube <b>160</b>. The burner tube <b>160</b> may include various configurations, such as an H-shaped configuration or any other suitable configuration, such as a circular configuration. The burner tube <b>160</b> may be made of stainless steel and include holes <b>164</b> for dispersing gas therefrom. The face wall <b>154</b> may include guard structure <b>167</b>, handles <b>166</b> and a burner knob <b>168</b>, the burner knob <b>168</b> coupled to a valve <b>170</b> disposed within the guard structure <b>167</b> such that turning the burner knobs <b>168</b> may adjust the valve <b>170</b> to adjust the amount of gas being fed through the burner tube <b>160</b>. The valve <b>170</b> also may be coupled to a hose <b>172</b> and a gas regulator <b>174</b> for coupling to a gas source (not shown), such as a propane tank or natural gas source. The second insert <b>150</b> may include other structure for operating a gas burner, such as an ignitor switch (not shown) or the like, or any other structure as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The second insert <b>150</b> may be removably positioned in the lower insert opening <b>22</b> or the upper insert opening <b>24</b> defined in the side wall <b>14</b> of the main body <b>12</b>, similar to the insert of the previous embodiment, depending upon the heat level desired for cooking the food product. As previously set forth, the slideable door <b>90</b> may be moved to the lower or upper insert openings <b>22</b>, <b>24</b> to the opposite position of the selected second insert <b>150</b>. Further, similar to the previous embodiment, the second insert <b>150</b> may include pegs (not shown) along an underside of the bottom wall <b>156</b> to assist in sliding the second insert <b>150</b> along the rails <b>86</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 5</figref>) associated with the lower and upper insert openings <b>22</b>, <b>24</b>. With this arrangement, the user of the cooking station <b>10</b> may select various modalities for cooking a food product, heating with gas heat with the second insert <b>150</b> or heating and/or smoking the food product with the insert <b>26</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>), as well as the user may select various positions for positioning the selected first or second inserts <b>26</b>, <b>150</b> within the main body <b>12</b> to control the heat held within the cooking station to slow or speed-up the cooking process.

0041Now with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>, another embodiment for a cooking station <b>200</b> is provided. In this embodiment, the cooking station <b>200</b> may include a pellet hopper <b>202</b> coupled therewith. The cooking station <b>200</b> may extend longitudinally so as to be oriented longitudinally in a vertical manner or orientation, similar to the cooking station of the previous embodiment. The pellet hopper <b>202</b> may also extend longitudinally so as to be oriented longitudinally in a vertical manner. Further, the cooking station <b>200</b> may include a main body <b>204</b> defining an upright side wall <b>206</b> with a closed bottom end <b>208</b> and a pivotable lid <b>210</b>, similar to the previous embodiment. Further, the upright wall <b>206</b> may extend laterally with a radial portion and a generally flat portion, the flat portion extending along a front side of the main body <b>204</b>, similar to that described and depicted for the main body of previous embodiments. The cooking station <b>200</b> of this embodiment may include a door <b>212</b> that may be pivotably opened to expose multiple grill racks (not shown) positioned horizontally within the main body <b>204</b> of the cooking station <b>200</b> and spaced vertically at different heights within the main body <b>204</b>. For example, the lid <b>210</b> may be pivoted open to expose a top grill rack (not shown), similar to the grill <b>80</b> in the embodiment set forth in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref>. Further, similar to that depicted in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref>, the lid <b>210</b> may be pivoted open to expose the food suspension elements <b>76</b>, such as the rods <b>62</b> and the hooks <b>64</b>. Each of such grill racks or food suspension elements <b>76</b> (see <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref>) may be employed for positioning food thereon. In another embodiment, the door <b>212</b> of the cooking station <b>200</b> may be made of a transparent material, such as glass, configured to withstand high temperatures so that a user may view and observe the food product on the racks without opening the door <b>212</b> of the cooking station <b>200</b>.

0042The pellet hopper <b>202</b> may include an auger (not shown) for controllably feeding pellets that may be heated to deliver heat and/or smoke to the food product within the cooking station <b>200</b>. Such pellet hopper <b>202</b> may include typical pellet hopper structure, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art, for heating, smoking, and flavoring food product. Such pellet hopper <b>202</b> may include a control panel <b>214</b> operatively coupled to a control system and temperature sensors (not shown) within the main body <b>204</b> to control the temperature of the cooking station <b>200</b> with the amount of pellets being fed to a heating element (not shown) of the cooking station <b>200</b>. In this manner, a user may control the temperature and the time period for cooking food product with the pellet hopper <b>202</b>. Further, such temperature settings or other input options of the pellet hopper <b>202</b> may be controlled remotely through, for example, blue tooth and Wi-Fi technology or the like via application software downloadable to a user's smart phone, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In another embodiment, the pellet hopper <b>202</b> may be integrated with the cooking station <b>10</b> of the previous embodiment (e.g., <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>) through, for example, a third insert opening, that may be defined in the first or second side walls <b>38</b>, <b>40</b> of the main body <b>12</b> of the cooking station <b>10</b>.

0043While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. Further, the structural features of any one embodiment disclosed herein may be combined or replaced by any one of the structural features of another embodiment set forth herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.